Incandescent bulb and shade remover



No. 623,|80. Patented Apr. I8, 1899. J. J. RHINE. INCANDESCENT BULB A ND SHADE BEMOVER.

(Applibation filed Dec. 27, 1897.)

(No Model.)

THE mums PEI'ERS cu, PHOTDJJTHO" wnsumm'on. c4 c4 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. RHINE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

INCANDESCENT BULB AND SHADE REMOVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,180, dated April 18, 18 99.

Application filed December 27, 1897. Serial No. 663,566- (No model.)

To all 11/72/0772, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN J. RHINE, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Incandescent Bulb and Shade Removers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a device for inserting and removing incandescent-lamp bulbs from their sockets.

The object of myinvention is to provide a simple contrivance of the above nature which is especially applicable where the lamp-bulbs are situated at such height as to be out of the reach of a person of ordinary stature. Furthermore, its object is to provide such a contrivance which is not only applicable for use in connection with lamps which are forced directly into their sockets, but also to those which are screwed into their sockets.

The appended claims contain what I claim as my invention.-

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in elevation, partly broken away, of my'improved device, the full lines indicating the position of the parts when grasping a bulb. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the upper portion, showing the arms open in position to receive the bulb. Fig. 3 is a top view of the graspinglevers. Fig. 4: is a detail view of the device for locking the arms in position.

Like letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a represents a rod of any desired length having at its lower end the. handle a. The extension Z) is hinged to the upper end of the rod a, so as to be capable of being adjusted at different angles with reference to the rod CL. A thumb-nut b is provided at the point of connection of said rod and extension-piece, whereby said extension may be locked in the desired position.

Journaled in the upper end of the extension 6 is the rotary shaft 0, having the spiral groove 0 formed therein. The shaft 0 passes through an opening in the bracket (Z, which is secured to the upper -end .of the arm (1, said arm (1 extending up from the extensionpiece I). In this manner the shaft 0 is supported and is adapted to turn in its bearings.

Mounted on the arm d is the slide 6, said slide having the projection e, which engages the spiral groove 0 of the shaft 0. It is apparent that by moving the slide 6 on the arm d said shaft 0 will turn in one direction or the other, according to whether said slide is moved up or down. ing of the slide 6, an endless cord f passes around suitable pulleys f on the bracket d and the rod a. The cordfis knotted or has enlargements f thereon on each side. of the point where it passes through the eyelet f on the slide e. By drawing on the endless cord f the slide may be raised or lowered, according to the direction of rotation to be imparted to the shaft 0.

At the upper end of the neck 0 of the shaft 0 is the rigid collar g, and above said collar g is the nut 71, screwed on the neck 0 This not h has the concave face 72/, while the neck 0 has the recess 77/ formed therein to receive the rib of a lamp-bulb, as will more fully hereinafter appear.

The collar g has the lugs g thereon at opposite sides. Pivoted to swing on said lugs g are the grasping-levers 2'. The upper ends of the levers 2' have. each a semicircular seat 1', which together receive the neck or upper end of the lamp-bulb and encircle or partially encircle same. The inner faces of said seats are provided with cushions 2' of rubber or other suitable material, so as to prevent the breaking of the glass. l

The lower ends 1' of the leversi pass through openings in the yoke 75. The yoke 7.: has the annular recess k with which the collarl engages, forming a swivel connection. lets Z on the collar Z at opposite points have secured thereto the operating-cord m, said cord passing down through a guide m on the bracket (1, over the pulley m on the rod a to the reeln at the lower end of said rod. This reel 'n is mounted on the shaft n, which passes through the rod a and is operated by the handle 12 In order to lock'said reel in place, one end of the shaft n has the angular portion 71 which is adapted to engage a correspondingly-shaped seat 92 in the rod a.

To provide for the mov Eyethat it cannot turn; but by withdrawing the shaft, so as to release the portion a from its seat, said reel can turn.

A springr is interposed between the bracket (Z and the collar Z, said spring acting to normally hold the yoke 7;. up in the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the upper ends of the levers will be in such position as to grasp the neck of the lamp-bulb.

The lower ends 1' of the levers 2' have the notches s formed therein, with which the yoke it is adapted to engage when the said yokeis in its normal position, so that said yoke will not slip down and release said arms when the pull is given to withdraw the bulb from its socket.

\Vhen my invention is in use, the operation is as follows: \Vhere the bulb to be removed is in such position that a straight rod can be used, no change of angle for the extension is necessary. The operator drawing on the 'cord m the yoke 7.; is lowered, drawing the lower ends 2' of the levers together and forcing apart the upper ends, as shown in Fig. 2. The lamp-bulb t enters the space between the levers until the lower end of said bulb has the rib l fitting in the recess 7L2, while the curved end of said bulb fits within the concave portion h, as shown in Fig. 1. The cord m is then allowed to unreel, and the spring 7' will force up the yoke and draw together the lower ends of the levers, whereupon the semicircular seats i will encircle the neck of the bulb. If the bulb merely engages with the socket of the 1am p by being forced therein after the levers have grasped the bulb in the manner described, by pulling on the rod d the bulb will be removed. \Vhen, however, it is necessary to turn the bulb to unscrew it from its socket after the levers have been madeto grasp the bulb, the operator draws on the endless cord f. The slide e descends the arm (1, and with its projection e engaging the spiral groove 0' a rotary movementis imparted to the shaft 0. As said shaft carries the levers 2', the said levers will turn and the bulb grasped thereby will be unscrewed. The swivel-collarl prevents the twisting of the cord m when the shaft 0 is rotated.

It is apparent that the bulbs may be inserted in a manner similar to their manner of removal.

If the bulbs are arranged in such position that they cannot be removed by a straight rod, the extension 1) maybe adjusted at any suitable angle and held in such position by the thumb-nut b.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. In a device for the removal and insertion of lamp-bulbs, the combination of a rod, levers pivoted on said rod, a longitudinallyslidable yoke having openings therein through which the lower ends of said levers pass, and

means for raising and lowering said yoke,substantially as set forth.

2. In a device for the removal and insertion of lamp-bulbs, the combination of a rod, levers pivoted on said rod, a longitudinallyslidable yokehaving openings therein through which the lower ends of said levers pass, a spring acting to force said yoke upward, and means for lowering said yoke, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for the removal and insertion of lamp-bulbs, the combination of a rod, 1evers pivoted on said rod, a spring-actuated yoke having openings therein through which the lower ends of said levers pass, said lower ends of said levers having notches with which said yoke engages, and means for lowering said yoke, substantially as set forth.

4. In a device for the removal and insertion of lamp-bulbs, the combination of a rod, a rotary shaft on said rod, means for rotating said shaft, levers pivoted on said shaft, a spring-actuated yoke having openings therein through which the lower ends of said levers pass, a swivel on said yoke, and a cord connected to said swivel, substantially as set forth.

5. In a device for the removal and insertion of lamp-bulbs, the combination of a rod, a rotary shaft on said rod, said shaft having a spiral groove therein, a longitudinally-sliding member engaging said groove, means for operating said sliding member, and grasping mechanism on said shaft, substantially as set forth.

o. In a device for the removal and insertion of lamp-bulbs, the combination of a rod, arotary shaft on said rod, said shaft having a spiral groove therein, an arm on said rod, a slide on said arm having a projection engaging said groove, means for moving said slide longitudinally to and fro on said arm, and grasping mechanism on said shaft, substantially as set forth.

7. In a device for the removal and insertion of lamp-bulbs, the combination of a rod, a rotary shaft on said rod, said shaft having a spiral groove therein, an arm on said rod, a

slide on said arm having a projection engagin g said groove, an endless cord engaging said slide, and grasping mechanism on said shaft, substantially as set forth.

8. In a device for the removal and insertion oflamp-bulbs,the combination of a rod,grasping-leverson said rod, an operating-cord connected to said levers, a shaft on said rod, a reel on said shaft, said shaft having an angular portionadapted to enter seat in said rod to prevent the turning of said shaft, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JOHN J. RHINE, have hereunto set my hand.

J OHN J. RI'IINE:

\Vitnesses:

W. B. IIORNER, GEO. H. LADLEY, J r. 

